The Autobots and kids plus Jack that came back because of Arcee, who managed to convince him, were currently assembled in the main ops centre; discussing a plan of action to stop Megatron's latest scheme to take over the world. Scrap that, just totally annihilate the world.
"We cannot allow Megatron to send Dark Energon through his spacebridge" Optimus continued. "If he succeeds… the dead of Cybertron will rise, swarm through the spacebridge vortex, and invade Earth. Ending humankind to Megatron's twisted rule".
"Optimus," Ratchet spoke as he manned the terminal. "I've pinpointed the location of the Decepticon Spacebridge… high in Earth's orbit"
"Out of our reach," Optimus added.
"Okay, so you guys don't fly. But can't you just groundbridge there?" asked Miko, gesturing to the ring structures installed into the carved, stone wall.
"The groundbridge has limited range" Ratchet explained. "Stretched all the way in orbit its vortex could snap, and scatter us to the stars"
Jack glanced over at Arcee nervously. The femme, in turn, gave a comforting smile.
"Since Megatron is likely already in transit," Optimus paused as he turned to the groundbridge tunnel, "I'm afraid we must take that risk. Reaching the spacebridge first is our only means of stopping him. Or maybe... "
" Or? " Asked Ratchet.
"Maybe we should ask Rockwell?" Bumblebee cut in, raising his finger like he'd just had the greatest idea ever. Given how young he was, and honestly just how amazing their new friend's abilities were, he really wanted to see Rockwell transform more often.
Rafael translated the beeping for Jack and Miko
"Or ask Rockwell. You're right, Bumblebee," Prime agreed.
"Hopefully he's got something. The risks are too high." Ratchet went back to his workstation and started dialing Dragunov. The fact that Rockwell had helped save him and the team made him hate the guy a little less. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious about how Rockwell did the whole shapeshifting thing. His scientist instincts kept asking: what's the principle behind it? Scanning through optics? Getting CNA from somewhere? Cybertronians had genes too – called CNA.
But that raised another question – where did Rockwell get CNA from? He wasn't buying the idea that it came from a Vehicon. Those were way too weak.
"At his underground base... there are some sweet things. Maybe there's something we can use?" Arcee put her hands on her hips and glanced toward the GroundBridge.
Jack and Rafael looked at each other. Neither of them had seen Rockwell in days. After finding out a truth like that, you'd expect some answers or something. But apparently, they were being left out if even the Autobots knew more about him than they did.
"He has an underground base?!" Miko blurted out. "Would he let us visit it?"
"Yeah, Arcee, you were there. What's it like? Though I gotta say, judging by those flying bucket heads he's got, Earth's not as technologically inferior as you think, Ratchet." Bulkhead turned to Ratchet, who had already punched everything into the panel and was just waiting for Optimus's go-ahead.
"Whatever." The old bot didn't want to admit he was wrong.
"Well, according to the coordinates he gave us, it led to a training room. A huge training room. Looking at the size of it, you start wondering how the city hasn't caved in." She crossed her arms and turned to Bulkhead. Everyone listened closely, except Miko, who went 'It's THAT massive?' Arcee continued, "The room's a full-on simulation with adjustable terrain, weather, time, and opponents. Basically an upgraded version of our training ground upstairs. Next on the list: a lab, a testing range, a botany room – though I have no idea what that's about – an underground garage, and there are even lower levels. Didn't have time to see the rest."
Bulkhead whistled. Ratchet's optics went wide. Bumblebee and Optimus nodded approvingly. Miko whistled along with Bulkhead, standing next to him. "It IS massive."
"Our friend has shown considerable combat ability, a wide range of skills, and plenty of resources. It'd be foolish not to find out if he's got something that could help us." Ratchet knew Optimus's speech patterns by now, and halfway through his sentence, he'd already hit the call button. "He's on the line."
"Optimus." The man's voice came through the speakers, loud enough to echo through the base.
"Rockwell, good to hear you," Optimus began.
"Likewise, Optimus." Dragunov matched the politeness.
"We've found ourselves at a point we can't cross without putting lives at risk. We might need your help, if that's possible."
Not even three seconds passed. The answer came instantly. "Send the GroundBridge." If Optimus had eyes in the back of his head, he would've seen Bumblebee and Miko pumping their fists in the air.
***
The short version of the situation was this. Megatron had a SpaceBridge – an upgraded version of the GroundBridge. Thanks to its size and power, the SpaceBridge could open a portal straight to Cybertron. And on Cybertron itself, billions of corpses were waiting to be activated with Dark Energon. Megatron planned to move tons of Dark Energon to Cybertron, take control of the fallen warriors, use them to win the war, and grab Earth while he was at it.
Prime's team had the coordinates of the SpaceBridge. It was on the dark side of the Moon. If they tried using the GroundBridge beyond Earth's atmosphere, they'd risk getting torn apart at the atomic level. Before taking that risk, they needed to hear what Rockwell thought. Dragunov was glad they asked – better to go over all the options before the big show. And lucky for them, they thought right.
If the equipment wasn't advanced enough, there was one very good form for this.
"Understood." Rockwell nodded after listening to Optimus. "I can help you."
That was a breath of fresh air for Team Prime. Optimus himself even allowed a small smile, glad his hope had been justified. Bumblebee beeped something from behind. Bulkhead fist-bumped Miko, who was sitting on his shoulder. Arcee smiled. Ratchet raised an eyebrow. The two boys waited quietly.
After Rockwell spoke, there was a flash of light – green, bright enough to cover his whole tall figure.
When the light died down, standing in Rockwell's place was a black and white humanoid with green circuitry patterns along the black areas on its back, arms, and head. About five meters tall – as tall as Arcee, but as broad as Bumblebee. [ A/N: There are no changes for Upgrade. GOAT is as good as he is ]
Rockwell gave everyone a moment to take him in. They were fascinated – especially the kids. Bumblebee too, since he was still a teenager by Cybertronian standards.
"Wow, and what's this guy called?" Miko asked.
"The name of their species is Galvanic Mechamorph." The voice had the same baritone as Rockwell's normal voice, just with a robot filter slapped on top, like in those phone apps.
Ratchet leaned in slightly, checking his onboard computer. "My thoughts were right. This isn't organic." He made his notes.
"Galvanic Mechamorphs are a techno-organic species," Rockwell corrected. "Made entirely of nanobots. A Mechamorph can use its internal nanotechnology to merge with and possess any technology by encasing itself over it."
"Upgrade!" Miko shouted from her spot, making everyone turn to look at her.
Ratchet, who despite himself had been listening closely, also stopped and frowned at her. "What?"
"Let's call this form Upgrade! Like, saying 'Mecha Galva-form' or whatever is too long! Each of your forms should have a name, Mr. D!"
Rockwell paused for a moment. He remembered how Naka had named his Merlinisapien form Chamalien. Gotta admit, it rhymed pretty well. One name summed up the whole form. And now here we go again. The whole point of a Galvanic Mechamorph was upgrading. The name fit. But still–"I don't name them," Rockwell replied, stepping closer to the GroundBridge.
"But it would be so cool to have a cool name, and even yell it out every time you transform! Don't you think, Bulk?"
"Meh, yelling would ruin the element of surprise," Bulkhead gave his opinion, doing that 50/50 hand gesture he'd learned from Miko. In the week they'd known each other, he'd picked up a lot from her–and she'd picked up a lot from him. Some of which she really shouldn't have.
"Yeah, Miko, the yelling thing was a bit much," Rafael added from the base's living area. Behind him and Jack lay Agent William Fowler on a medical cot, still unconscious.
Rockwell noticed him too. Didn't look like any serious injuries–probably just asleep. But after the bots left, Dragunov would check on the Agent.
While part of Team Prime debated Miko's idea, Optimus, Ratchet, and Arcee watched Rockwell's actions.
Right before their eyes, he stretched his big hand toward the base of the GroundBridge. That shut up the loud discussions in the background.
To the shock of Team Prime, the Mechamorph's body turned more blob-like as it splattered against the equipment. The black and green goo of Rockwell's body spread around the terminal and seeped into the seams. Mechanical parts inside and out reshaped themselves instantly.
In seconds, the GroundBridge terminal looked totally redone. There was a green, glass-like panel acting as the monitor and another glass panel at a 45-degree angle with a keyboard on it. But Dragunov didn't stop there.
Upgrade's gooey body traveled into the wires connected to the GroundBridge. The tar-like substance spread and covered the ring structures of the machine in seconds. When Rockwell was done, the bots were taken aback—their GroundBridge was now black with green circuit patterns, while the bridge running between the rings was lime green.
The Hightrix dial could be seen at the top of the monitor on the GroundBridge controls.
It looked way more advanced than before. Ratchet approached the terminal and gawked at how high-tech it was. As the medic examined the new equipment with wide optics, Upgrade's head poked out from the side of the screen. Ratchet yelped in surprise.
"By the Allspark... What did you just do?" Ratchet asked, still shocked.
"Your GroundBridge is now a SpaceBridge, Medicae."